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Shanghai - Francesco Molinari held off a relentless Lee Westwood on Saturday to maintain a one-stroke lead over the new world number one and set up an enticing final-round battle at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
The Italian, who is ranked 30th in the world, answered every challenge from his playing English partner and Ryder Cup team-mate on the third day of play with a smart, conservative game.
But he was helped by some sparkling shots including an approach from about 140 yards on the par-4 13th that landed on the green and rolled in for an eagle.
Molinari shot a four-under 67 for the round to go to 14 strokes under par for the tournament, at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Westwood led a British charge on the leaderboard, also shooting a 67 to end the day at 13 under, followed by compatriots Luke Donald at 10 under and Ross Fisher two strokes further back.
Last year's runner-up and fans' favourite Ernie Els of South Africa could not match his second round 65 but still joined Fisher for a share of fourth place after shooting a one-under 71.
Meanwhile, world number two Tiger Woods' troubles continued, with the sport's superstar still unable to find a rhythm in his first tournament in five years without the top ranking. Westwood knocked him from the top last week.
Woods carded a 73 to go to three under for the tournament - 11 strokes off the pace, his hopes fading fast.
Woods has not won in 2010 and played some of the worst golf in his career after the revelations about his serial philandering a year ago, leading to a five-month hiatus from the game.
Westwood will retain his ranking with a higher finish than Woods, world number three Martin Kaymer of Germany and fourth-ranked Phil Mickelson of the United States.
Third-round scores from the $7 million WGC-HSBC Champions tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club on Saturday (par 72):202 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 65-70-67
203 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 66-70-67
206 - Luke Donald (ENG) 68-70-68
208 - Ross Fisher (ENG) 69-70-69, Ernie Els (RSA) 72-65-71, Richie Ramsay (SCO) 69-68-71
209 - Jaco van Zyl (RSA) 71-66-72
210 - Padraig Harrington (IRL) 70-70-70, Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 67-72-71,
211 - Paul Casey (ENG) 73-71-67, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-70-67, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 69-71-71
212 - Tim Clark (RSA) 72-70-70, Peter Hanson (SWE) 73-69-70, Pablo Martin (ESP) 68-73-71, Robert Allenby (AUS) 72-68-72
213 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 70-74-69, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71-71-71, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 67-74-72, Richard Green (AUS) 72-68-73, Tiger Woods (USA) 68-72-73, Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-70-73
Selected others:
214 - Hunter Mahan (USA) 70-73-71, K.J. Choi (KOR) 72-71-71, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 72-71-71
215 - Martin Kaymer (GER) 72-69-74
216 - Yang Yong-Eun (KOR) 69-74-73
218 - Graeme McDowell (NIR) 74-71-73
229 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 69-80-80
